Strand treatment apparatus

ABSTRACT

Textile strands are crimped by jetting them into a laterally confining region terminating in a laterally surrounding fine screen. The laterally confining region is provided by a stuffing chamber that enlarges in the downstream direction and terminates in such cylindrical screen.

United States Patent [191' [111 3,840,950

Stanley 1 Oct. 15, 1974 [S4] STRAND TREATMENT APPARATUS 3.482.294 12/1909 Joly 28/l.6 3,594.878 7/1971 Porter... 28/l.3 [751 lnventor- Stanley- 3,650,001 3/1972 Nikkel 28/13 x 73 Assigneez Textured Yam C Inc Kennett 3,669,328 6/1972 Castelli 28/16 X Squarey Pa 3,729,831 5/1973 Kosaka et al. i r r 28/l.4

[22] Filed: 1973 Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt [21] App]. N0.: 343,644 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles A. McClure [52] U.S. Cl 28/1.3, 28/16 [57] ABSTRACT Q Textile strands are crimped by jetting them into a laterally confining region terminating in a laterally surrounding fine screen. The laterally confining region is [56] References Cited provided by a stuffing chamber that enlarges in the I downstream direction and terminates in such cylindri- UNITED STATES PATENTS Cal screen 3,303,546 2/1967 Van Blerk 28/13 3,343,240 9/1967 Parmeggiani et a1. 28/113 X 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures STRAND TREATMENT APPARATUS This invention relates to crimping of textile strands, especially by jetting such a strand into a laterally confining region and thereby compressively crimping it.

Numerous means and methods of bulking or crimping textile strands are well known, each with certain advantages and disadvantages, whether in operation or in product (or both). Mechanical deformation of strands by mechanical contact with gears or nip rolls often weakens the strands unduly, and jets have been used to forward strands for compressive crimping without causing such degradation. When enough jetting force is employed, however, the jetting fluid tends toward formation of loops or other configurations undesirable in compressively c'rimped strands. Resulting interaction between fluid flow and strand travel may tend to narrow the operable range so much as to render the operation unstable.

A primary object of the present invention is compressive crimping of textile strands jetted into the crimping region, without undue strand degradation.

Another object is jet stuffer-crimping of textile strands without formation of undesired jet-induced strand configurations.

A further object is provision of strand-crimping apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing objects.

Other objects of this invention together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is presented by way of example rather than limitation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of strand'treatment utilizing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, largely in section, of certain of such apparatus, less the strand shown in the preceding view; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view thereof with the strand in place, on a further enlarged scale.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in textile strand-crimping apparatus having a laterally confining stuffing chamber and jet means for feeding strand thereinto and at least partially therethrough, by means of a laterally confining screen constituting a terminal portion of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment of such apparatus having an entrance and an exit for such strand andhaving means laterally confining the strand therebetween including successive entrance, intermediate, and exit portions, and wherein the entrance portion is provided with jet means for forwarding such strand, the exit portion comprises a laterally surrounding fine screen, and the intermediate portion increases in cross-sectional area between entrance and exit portions.

FIG. 1 shows strand 10 as being withdrawn from package 11 thereof and forwarded through guide 12 to first pair 13, 13' and then second pair 15, 15 of godet and separator rolls within enclosure 14. The enclosure may be heated, as may the godets themselves, which also may draw the strand therebetween to increased length. Upon leaving the enclosure, the strand (now designated l')'passes into the entrance or jet end of jet-stuffer-crimper 18, which receives air thereinto via hose l7. Crimped strand is withdrawn from the exit end of the crimper through region 19, in which it is adjusted in tension, speed, or temperature (or a com- 2 bination thereof) and then is shown as being wound onto package 21 by drive roll 20, which may be slotted helically to traverse the strand onto the package.

FIG. 2 shows jet-stuffer-crimper 18 of the preceding view in greater detail, its principal components being housing 23, strand inlet means 25 protruding leftward from the housing, air inlet means 26 protruding downward from the housing, jet means 24 inside the housing, and stuffing chamber 28 protruding rightward from the housing. The strand inlet means carries the jet means, and it screws into the housing to any desired degree of insertion, with regard to clearance of the outlet of the jet means inside the housing. Lock nut 27 on the strand inlet means is adapted to hold the jet means spaced (by channel 30) from the inside wall of the housing and at the desired degree of insertion therein. Split-ring collar 29 around the housing intermediate its ends holds air inlet means 26 in place. Stuffing chamber 28 threads into the right end of the housing, thereby juxtaposing entrance portion 31 of the chamber to the jet outlet inside the housing.

Stufi'mg chamber 28 comprises, in addition to the entrance portion just mentioned,intermediate' portion 32, and exit portion 33. The bore of the intermediate portion is stepped outwardly in the downstream direction (to the right) at 32a and 321 while exit portion 34 is smoothly cylindrical with small openings therethrough (indicated here by stippling) throughout its length, from junction 33 with the intermediate portion to chamber outlet 35. The exit portion is screenlike in function and structure and sometimes is called a screen herein notwithstanding that it may or, may not be woven inform and that it is impractical to show a very fine-mesh woven form in the drawing. The strand shown in FIG. 1 is omitted from FIG. 2 in the interet of clarity but is shown again in the fragmentary enlarged view following.

FIG. 3 shows part of stuffing chamber intermediate portion 32 and exit portion 34. Compact strand accumulation 10a fills theformer but only partially fills the latter, from whichlcr'imped strand 10" is withdrawn longitudinally. Openings 36 through the wall of the exit portion from the interior to the exterior are visible (not necessarily drawn to scale) in this view.

Operation of the illustrated apparatus in the practice of the present invention is readily understood. Textile strand 10 is withdrawn from package 11 or any other suitable source of supply of suchstrand and is passed through guide 12 or other appropriate guide, which imposes some degree of tension. Input godet and separator roll pair 13, 13' about which the strand passes in essentially non-slipping contact, establish a given input speed, which is normally exceeded by the speed of output godet and separator roll pair 15, 15' about which the strand passes similarly. In the event of a sufficient disparity between input and output speeds the strand is drawn to increased length, for which a ratio of 4X is customary in the treatment of nylon strands, for examplepCrimping preferably follows closely after drawing.

The rate at which resulting strand l0 enters jetstuffer-crimper 18 is essentially the rate at which it leaves the output godet and separator roll pair. Air at super-atmospheric pressureenters through air inlet means 26 .and passes through channel 30'past the outlet end of jet means 24. The venturi there established forwards strand into and through strand inlet means 25 and jet means 24 and on into and part of the way through stuffing chamber 28 in which it is compacted wall of the entrance portion of the chamber is smoothly cylindrical and imperforate, the intermediate portion is stepped cylindrical and im'perforate, and the exit por-- Openings 361frorn the interior to the exterior of exit portion 34 of the stuffing chamber are shown as small radial bores through the wall thereof. As indicated above, such a structure is considered to be a screen, in

view of the fineness of the openings which preferably are spaced-at least 100 per square inch. Of course, a similarly fine woven screen would be suitable also. A representative diameter of opening in a screen used successfully according to this invention is 0.0075 inch. A surface withsuch fine openings appears to have an overall matte finish rather than discrete openings therein.

Suitable means and methods for heating the strand, as in enclosure 14, are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,254 and my prior patents recited therein. Appropriate tensioning means are set forth in my U. S. Pat. No. 3,317,977 and its predecessor. Stuffing chambers for use according to this invention preferably are of open-ended type as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,570,084. and myprior patents identified therein, albeit with dissimilar infeed means. For drawing means, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,083 and its predecessors in my name.

The jet-stuffer-crimper of this invention not only provides a novel combinationof structural characteristics but also functions to produce crimped textile strands having superior qualities of handle, cover, and structural crimp characteristics. Such crimped strands are free of, undesired degradation and loops. Although a preferred embodiment has been described and illustrated, modifications may be made therein, as by addition, combination, or subdivision of parts or steps, or by substitution of equivalents, while retaining significant advantages and benefits of the invention, which into accumulation a of crimped strand. 'l'he'inside itself is defined in the following claims.

The claimed invention: v

1. In textile strand-crimping apparatus having an entrance and an exit for such strand and having means laterally confining the strand therebetween including successive-entrance,intermediate, and exit portions, and wherein the entrance portion is provided with jet means. for forwarding such strand for compressive crimping in the intermediate portion, the improvement wherein the exit portion comprises a laterally surrounding fine screen, and the intermediate portion increases in cross-sectional area between entranceand exit portions.

- 2. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the-exit portion screen is cylindrical.

3. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is stepped outward from entrance portion to exit portion.

4. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim I, wherein the intermediate portion is tapered outward over at least part of its length between entrance and exit portions. i

5. In stuffer-crimping apparatus'for textile strands, having a laterally confining stuffing chamber and jet means for feeding strand thereinto and at least partially therethrough, the improvement comprising a laterally confining screen constituting a terminal portion of the chamber, the outside of the screen being directly in contact with the' external atmosphere and the inside of the screen being adapted for direct contact with the strand being crimped.

6. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 5, the chamber having a straight-through bore axis from the outlet of the jet means to the outlet of the chamber.

7. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the chamber bore enlarges in the downstream direction.

8. in a stuffing chamber of compressive strandcrimping apparatus, the improvement in laterally confining structure comprising a finely apertured wall constituting and extending over a portion of the chamber length begining downstream from the locus of initial compressive crimping of the strand and communicating directly with the atmosphere outside the apparatus via the wall apertures.

9. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the aperture density is at least about per squareinch of wall surface.

10. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the aperture diameter is-about 0.0075 inch. 

1. In textile strand-crimping apparatus having an entrance and an exit for such strand and having means laterally confining the strand therebetween including successive entrance, intermediate, and exit portions, and wherein the entrance portion is provided with jet means for forwarding such strand for compressive crimping in the intermediate portion, the improvement wherein the exit portion comprises a laterally surrounding fine screen, and the intermediate portion increases in cross-sectional area between entrance and exit portions.
 2. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit portion screen is cylindrical.
 3. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is stepped outward from entrance portion to exit portion.
 4. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is tapered outward over at least part of its length between entrance and exit portions.
 5. In stuffer-crimping apparatus for textile strands, having a laterally confining stuffing chamber and jet means for feeding strand thereinto and at least partially therethrough, the improvement comprising a laterally confining screen constituting a terminal portion of the chamber, the outside of the screen being directly in contact with the external atmosphere and the inside of the screen being adapted for direct contact with the strand being crimped.
 6. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 5, the chamber having a straight-through bore axis from the outlet of the jet means to the outlet of the chamber.
 7. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the chamber bore enlarges in the downstream direction.
 8. In a stuffing chamber of compressive strand-crimping apparatus, the improvement in laterally confining structure comprising a finely apertured wall constituting and extending over a portion of the chamber length begining downstream from the locus of initial compressive crimping of the strand and communicating directly with the atmosphere outside the apparatus via the wall apertures.
 9. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the aperture density is at least about 100 per square inch of wall surface.
 10. Strand-crimping apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the aperture diameter is about 0.0075 inch. 